“Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise– why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool– why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you– for you know in your heart that many times you yourself cursed others.
All this I tested by wisdom and I said, ‘I am determined to be wise’ – but this is beyond me. Whatever exists is far off and most profound– who can discover it? So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare. ‘Look,’ says the Teacher, ‘this is what I have discovered: Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things– while I was still searching but not finding– I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all. This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.’
Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.” (Ecclesiastes 7:11-8:1)
Three Components of Wisdom
Knowledge: facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; or awareness or familiarity gained by experience with a fact or situation
Understanding: an individual perception or judgment of a fact or situation; comprehension and power of abstract thought
Discernment: perception in the absence of judgment with the view or goal of obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding; the ability to make a good judgment
Wisdom: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, and the soundness of action or decision with the regard to the application of these qualities
Benefits of Attaining Wisdom
Protection
“He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.” (Proverbs 2:7-8)
“Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.
Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, who have left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.” (Proverbs 2:11-17)
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.” (Proverbs 4:6)
Growth
“He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield for those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair– every good path.” (Proverbs 2:7-9)
- Ingredient: The provision and clarification of guidance
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” (Proverbs 3:13-16)
- Ingredient: an increase of prosperity– that is, the Hebrew word Tsalach, meaning to “prosper, move forward, and make accomplishments.” More valuable than material riches.
“For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (Proverbs 2:10)
“Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” (Proverbs 3:17-18)
“Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:23-24)
- Ingredient: provision and increase in peace
“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair– every good path.” (Proverbs 2:9)
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you.’-- when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason– when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.” (Proverbs 3:27-31)
- Ingredient: the development of righteous judgment and and increase in integrity (integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral uprightness; the state of being whole and undivided)
“My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.” (Proverbs 3:21-22)
“The wise inherit honor, but the fools get only shame.” (Proverbs 3:35)
“Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.” (Proverbs 4:8-9)
- Ingredient: increase of honor and affirmation of identity
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining brighter til the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19)
- Ingredient: the provision and increase in clarity
Intimacy with the Father
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding– indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:1-6)
“By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding He set the heavens in place; by His knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.” (Proverbs 3:19-20)
“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will keep your foot from being snared.” (Proverbs 3:25-26)
“For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into His confidence. The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.” (Proverbs 3:32-34)
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Uncomfy Studies: Introduction
SpiritualWelcome to the Introduction to my new message series: The Uncomfy Studies! Here starts a conversation on every topic that is NEVER explored in depth by the Church. Expect to be uncomfortable, expect to get mad, but also expect to learn things and se...
